A-Infos (en) Canada, Quebek, [S26-global] (FTAA) Police attack medics & independent reporters

[msdarkstarone@aol.com]

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      A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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>From the Independent Media Center -- FTAA Coverage
www.indymedia.org


breaking news of the ftaa actions
Sunday, April 22nd

2:56am EST Four medics and one videographer are trapped inside the
abandoned medical center. They have been trapped inside for about
three hours after they went there to recover mainly personal supplies
and equipment.

In a telephone interview, one medic said they are all doing well and
not in need of anything, but they are not going outside for fear of
being targeted by police.

The abandoned medical center is located directly behind a new security
perimeter established by police. Medics moved from that location to
the CMAQ due to concerns for the safety of patients.

Last evening, police raided an alley in front of the medical center
where people were being treated. The police drew their guns on medics
and patients and forced them out onto the streets, the medic said.

Once on the street, police ripped gas masks and goggles off people, as
well as any equipment they were carrying, the medic added. The medics
and patients were then forced to walk in a single file line toward
CMAQ.

The medical center continues to operate within the lobby of CMAQ.

Medics have been targeted by police throughout the protests. The medic
said police have been shooting tear gas and concussion grenades at
medics as they try to help people.

The medic said the group will most likely stay inside the abandoned
building until daybreak.
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2:28am EST "Outside CMAQ" video clip is now available on
www.vermont.indymedia.org
  -----------------------------------------

1:42am EST Police have descended the stairs outside CMAQ and are
arresting people standing outside the building. Reports are coming in
that police are doing a sweep of the streets and randomly arresting
people.
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1:20am EST The police have taken over the intersection outside of
the CMAQ on Cote d'Abraham, which hundreds of activists occupied for
most of the night. They advanced by shooting off dozens of rounds of
rubber bullets and arrested a handful of people on their way. Unmarked
cars followed the protesters who moved further down the street. Two
riot police are pointing rubber bullet guns down the side stairs where
the entrance of the CMAQ/Medic Center is, to stop anyone from
ascending them.
  -----------------------------------------

12:29am EST The situation in the CMAQ newsroom is calm, as
journalists work on their content. However, clashes between police and
protestors continue in the streets and the outside air is saturated
with chemicals. Also, the lobby of CMAQ continues to function as the
medical center and is full of people in need of aid.
  -----------------------------------------

Saturday, April 21st
11:42pm EST Protesters have rebuilt a barricade of wood between
them and the police on Cote d'Abraham for the third time tonight. This
time, they are trying to reinforce it as deeply as possible. Police
are firing more teargas directly at them.
  -----------------------------------------

11:39pm EST The Quebec Legal Team has unconfirmed reports that
protestors are being detained on buses at the prison and not being
given water, food or access to bathrooms. Legal observers are
attempting to meet with police to discuss the situation. The buses are
being driven around the prison.
  -----------------------------------------

11:35pm EST An independent journalist with official press
credentials for the Summit of the Americas was audio recording
protestors being arressted when police grabbed and broke his recorder.
The police took the audio tape out of the recorder, at which time the
journalist tried to get it back and in the procee the tape broke. It
contained a weeks worth of interviews.
  -----------------------------------------

11:27pm EST The Quebec Legal Team has agreed to let police search
their Winnebago because they are entering the security perimeter
around the Summit of the Americas.
  -----------------------------------------

11:18pm EST The FBI did visit the seattle IMC, nobody is under
arrest, everything is cool, they are not confiscating anything.
  -----------------------------------------

11:04pm EST The rumor of an activist being killed has been denied
by the legal collective in quebec city, although there are many
injuries.

The man in question was shot with a plastic bullet in the neck and is
in critical condition.
  -----------------------------------------

10:54pm EST The Legal Collective's Winnebago was stopped by police
en route to meet protestors being released from jail. They are being
questioned.
  -----------------------------------------

10:49pm EST We have unconfirmed reports that three policemen have
been injured by rock-throwers.
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10:47pm EST A van carrying people who were going to meet protestors
being released from jail has been stopped by police.
  -----------------------------------------

10:44pm EST Protestors have breached the security perimeter at
Saint Jean and Saint Geneveve. A section of the fence has been torn
down.
  -----------------------------------------

10:38pm EST An official release from the Free Trade Area of the
Americas summit states that some delegates have chosen to leave early.
  -----------------------------------------

10:38pm EST The official Summit of the Americas has announced that
some delegates have chosen to leave the Summit on their own accord.
  -----------------------------------------

10:34pm EST The police have moved toward down Charet Street
throwing concussion grenades toward protestors
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10:32pm EST Police are now firing tear gas in front of the CMAQ
space.
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10:31pm EST Police are coming down the stairs on the side of the
CMAQ building and so are now on all sides of it. They have not
attempted to come in.
  -----------------------------------------

10:29pm EST One corporate media videographer was spotted and left
alone by the police. He could go wherever he wanted, while IMC
reporters were targeted as protesters.
  -----------------------------------------

10:22pm EST At least seven people have been arrested on Cote
d'Abraham.
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10:17pm EST
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10:10pm EST 400 more police have been sent in.
Also, vans of men dressed in plain clothes were seen pulling into a
side street and dispersing into the backyards of houses and woods
directly behind the protesters. They scattered in various directions.
People suspect they are undercover police officers.
  -----------------------------------------

10:01pm EST Police have just charged running, tackling protesters
and arresting them. They are now chasing the crowd down the street.
  -----------------------------------------

9:58pm EST There are no reporters here from the mainstream media,
as far as anyone has seen.
  -----------------------------------------

9:58pm EST One protester was sent to the hospital after being shot
in the kidney area with a rubber bullet. He may be bleeding
internally. Stephen from the IMC NYC was shot in the leg and Salim
from the San Francisco IMC was shot in the head and is bleeding.
  -----------------------------------------

Earlier news available at www.indymedia.org


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